We have 5 or so objectives for the new machine:
1) Handle wet heavy snow. The current machine would often just fill the chute and impeller with a very wet slushy mush, as if it pressing the water from the snow.
2) Turn. The circular driveway has two long arcs and with the fixed wheels required a bit of wrestling. Free wheeling one didn't provide traction when needed. The turn at the EOD was a big arc in the street.
3) Speed it up. The 28" 10hp Tecumseh MTD would often only be able to use half the scoop width before it would have overflow on the cleared side. This is why we have been looking at 30" and large units and focusing in the volume/mass of snow they could eject. This would be our main concern with a 26" 208cc.
4) Handle the EOD/Mailbox. The end of driveway (about 30') and the Mailbox (another 10-15') are plowed with a tall, hard, 5' wide mound of snow. The old unit struggled if it could handle it at all. It would be nice if the unit could handle it. This is the primary perceived advantage of the tracked unit. The dual freewheel has a slight advantage in releasing both for a quick backward movement. However, the same can be achieved by releasing the drive.
5) Wife can use it. I'm not always here and she needs to be able to get out when it snows. Her favorite story is when I caught the flu the afternoon before a large storm. If the Deere had the Ariens handlebars, we may have gotten it. However, the left/right freewheel will probably be easier for her to turn. She couldn't handle the Deere, but in the store had no problem with the Ariens. The nose weight was a little heavier in the Deere presumably because of the cast iron gearbox, but the real difference was that the Ariens hand grips were much further behind the rear wheels. She really liked the electric chute adjustment.
6) Reliable. Maintenance requires getting parts and possibly going to a repair facilty paying for the pickup/delviery. My guess is the Ariens, B&S Deere/Simplicity, Toro, and Husqvarna are all pretty similar there; they all have basically the same engine and drive components. However, is it a concern for MTD? As indicated, we had some failures do to springs and cables failing.
